The Yellow River
Bitter Waters
A crisis is brewing in China's northern heartland as its lifeline, the Yellow River, succumbs to pollution and overuse.

Earth from Space: Yellow River, Sea and sand

A Brief Introduction of the Yellow River in China

Published on Jun 22, 2013
The Yellow River (or Huang He) is the second-longest river in Asia after the Yangtze and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of 5,464 km (3,395 mi).Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai province of western China, it flows through nine provinces and empties into the Bohai Sea near the city of Dongying in Shandong province. The Yellow River basin has an east--west extent of 1,900 kilometres (1,180 mi) and a north--south extent of 1,100 km (680 mi). Its total basin area is 742,443 square kilometres (286,659 sq mi). The Yellow River is notable for the large amount of silt it carries—1.6 billion tons annually at the point where it descends from the Loess Plateau. If it is running to the sea with sufficient volume, 1.4 billion tons are carried to the sea annually. One estimate gives 34 kilograms of silt per cubic meter as opposed to 10 for the Colorado and 1 for the Nile. This video shows the sediment control projects along the Yellow River.

Jim Laurie Documentary 'Unruly Dragon' (1988)

Background: In the 1980's NHK, Japan's national broadcaster, was among the first to shoot in China extensive co-production documentaries. China was virtually closed off to foreign film makers until the late 1970's and early 1980's. In partnership with China Central Television, NHK produced two major films - one on the 'Silk Road' and another on the Yellow River. In 1987, Laurie having completed his first residency in China, was based in Tokyo. ABC News chose to adapt the NHK film for American television. Looking back 26 year later: 1988 was a time of less critical examination of China, an atmosphere that changed a year later when the Beijing government brought to a violent end the Spring 1989 Tian An Men reform movement.The film also shows parts of China including Tibet that have changed dramatically in the last twenty years. Ex: 2006, Chinese authorities began efforts to end the Tibetan practice of SKY BURIALS as portrayed in the film. As an historical document, it has some value in 2014.It aired at 10 pm April 3, 1988 and received a poor critical response from the New York Times. The Times led: "''The Unruly Dragon'' flows along like its subject, the Yellow River in China. It's long and it's muddy, but it has lots of bright flashes of color."